The 2026 Winter Olympic Games are now over, and the NHL schedule resumes to conclude the 2025-26 regular season.
The Los Angeles Kings had five stars playing in the men’s hockey portion of the Olympics, but are now ready to make a push towards another Stanley Cup.
The stretch run is now full-steam ahead, and the Kings have some work to do.
Kings’ defenseman Drew Doughty and goaltender Darcy Kuemper came up just short as Team Canada fell short against Team USA 2-1 in overtime in the gold medal game. Doughty and Kuemper received silver medals while Sweden forward Adrian Kempe produced two goals and two assists for four points in the tournament. Finland forward Joel Armia was the highest point producer of the Kings players, scoring three goals and five assists for eight points and capturing a bronze medal. Switzerland forward Kevin Fiala missed the tournament with a gruesome left injury.
Los Angeles gets back on track now as they sit in fifth place in the Pacific Division. They now have 26 games left, with 15 at home, where they are 8-11-7 at the halfway point and are currently four points out of a wild-card spot. The remaining schedule consists of two games against the Edmonton Oilers, and one game each against the Seattle Kraken and Vegas Golden Knights. These teams are ahead of the Kings in the standings.
One advantage Los Angeles could have as they March towards a playoff spot is the newly acquired forward Artemi Panarin. He was acquired from the New York Rangers in a blockbuster move and should inject new energy into the lineup. His consistency and offensive awareness could be just what Los Angeles needs to jump ahead of the teams mentioned above. Not only does he give them a much-needed scoring threat, but he is also a right-handed shot, something the Kings lack at forward.
Is it possible to overtake four teams in the last month and a half of the season? It is.
However, the Kings need to be more consistent and get points every game. Will they win the rest of their games? The chances are slim, but they need to average a point per game to stay alive. The team as a whole needs to step up because we are entering the last few weeks of the season, and points are crucial.
Will the Kings add another top-tier player at the trade deadline? Only GM Ken Holland knows, but this division is too tight, and it would not be a bad idea to add another solid piece.
This division race could come down to the last week of the season, and it should be fun to watch.
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